As one of IANA’s main stakeholders, AFRINIC is coordinating with the other four RIRs to develop a timeline in order to contribute to ICANN’s final document. It is proposed that the RIRs consolidate community input from all the regional consultation processes in order to develop a global position that takes into account regional perspectives and publish a call for comment on this by January 2015.

With this workshop, AFRINIC kick-started the consultation process for the community and issued a call to all stakeholders to participate in the discussion in person at all local sub-regional and regional IGFs and on the newly created IANA Oversight Transition mailing list to ensure that the AFRICAN community’s needs are fully represented in all eventual proposals.

AFRINIC called on the diverse African community, from governments to business to end-users, as all are involved and need to participate in the process to make their concerns heard. The community stressed that it is important to think about making the information about the IANA Oversight Transition relevant to the community so that all stakeholders feel like they can participate: what does the oversight actually involve? AFRINIC was asked to ensure that the community is fully informed to ensure that informed decisions can be made.

The community proposed that a working group should be set up to steer the discussion. Discussions will focus on how to translate the multi-stakeholder model in the African context and for the discussion on the IANA oversight transition.

ICANN Africa will hold executive workshop to discuss this transition (attendance targetted at government ministers and CEOs). ccTLDs, AfRALO and other community groups should be involved.

What do these NTIA requirements mean for a new oversight arrangement? Complete privatisation of the DNS with all stakeholders involved, preserving stability and security and with no change to services rendered.

To what extent must this oversight be “multistakeholder”? The process for transition should be defined by all stakeholders but not the actual outcome. Stewardship of the IANA function and the entrusted entity should be discussed and defined by all involved.

Do major changes put at risk the “security, stability, and resiliency of the Internet DNS”? We must be careful not to break the system; any new mechanism should preserve the above key elements of the oversight function.

How does oversight (particularly of the Internet number resource function) affect “openness of the Internet”? Oversight should not affect the openness of the Internet. Openness is crucial to Africa in order to advance the Internet, to contribute to the region’s development and to ensure our future users can get online.

Where do the RIR communities fit into a future model? As IANA’s key stakeholders, the RIRs must participate in the process of developing an oversight proposal to ensure that the Internet remains secure, stable, resilient and open.

…and what would that mean for our community processes? These are bottom-up, open and inclusive and community developed. This should stay the same regardless of whatever proposal is put forward.